Horse Race Betting Bill in South Carolina Advances Amid Opposition

of South Carolina’s fading equestrian sector are hopeful that a new legislative proposal permitting mobile betting on horse races could breathe life back into the industry.

This week, a Senate Judiciary subcommittee opened discussions on a bipartisan bill spearheaded by Sen. Michael Johnson, R-Tega Cay. Although no formal vote was taken, officials suggested that multiple hearings are likely before any decisions are reached. The measure is among several introduced this year seeking to legalize some form of gambling in the state.

ers argue that South Carolina is losing out on substantial revenue opportunities as gambling becomes more mainstream, both through legal avenues and underground operations.

Equine Advancement Act Leads Gambling Proposals

Of all the gambling-related bills introduced, the Equine Advancement Act appears to have the strongest prospects. Yet, despite its from influential lawmakers like Senate Finance Chairman Harvey Peeler of Gaffney, the proposal still faces challenges. South Carolina’s Legislature has long resisted changes to its anti-gambling stance; even nonprofit raffles remained illegal until 2015.

The bill would authorize betting on horse races via sanctioned mobile apps but would firmly maintain prohibitions on other types of gambling, such as slot machines and video poker. This limitation is designed to ease concerns about reopening the door to broader gambling industries, a nod to past issues stemming from a loophole inserted into the 1986 state budget.

“This bill is very narrowly tailored,” Johnson explained. “The goal is to take the proceeds from this and pump that directly into our equine industry — horse training, horse farms, horse racing, all of those things — so that they have an opportunity to compete with the other states that already have this.”

His proposal, currently under review by Peeler’s committee, is expected to progress to the Senate floor. This would echo past efforts led by former Republican Sen. Katrina Shealy of Lexington, whose similar bills in 2022 and 2024 made it through committee but failed to secure floor votes.

Whether Senate opponents of gambling can still block the bill remains uncertain. The Legislature has shifted since the heated battle to ban video poker over two decades ago. Few lawmakers from that era remain, possibly opening the door for a different outcome.

November’s elections introduced 13 new senators — the largest freshman class in at least a generation — among them former Rep. Russell Ott, who sponsored a horse race betting bill that the House approved 55-46 in 2023.

Should the measure reach debate on the Senate floor, Sen. Chip Campsen plans to remind his colleagues of the state’s troubled history with gambling.

“We have a terrible history when it comes to gambling in South Carolina, and I don’t want my children or my grandchildren raised in a place like South Florida,” said the Isle of Palms Republican. “You want to go gamble, gamble in Florida, but don’t make us Florida. Don’t make us Las Vegas.”

Religious Groups and Governor Voice Firm Opposition

Organizations that have historically opposed gambling expansion in South Carolina, including the Palmetto Family Council and the South Carolina Baptist Convention, have pledged continued resistance.

“When you use something like a vice to promote income or revenue, you always have to have more of it,” said Tony Beam, a lobbyist for the Baptist Convention. “It doesn’t do anything to make a state better.”

Even if the bill clears the Legislature, it would almost certainly face a veto from Gov. Henry McMaster, a long-time gambling opponent.

“Once you start letting gambling into the house, it will grow,” McMaster asserted Tuesday. “Gambling is bad for our culture. It’s not part of our heritage and there are better ways to make money, to give jobs, to generate tax money, to generate a thriving economy.”

Advocates Warn of Further Decline Without Action

The horse industry contributes $2 billion to South Carolina’s economy annually and s nearly 29,000 jobs, according to a 2019 state-commissioned Department of Agriculture study.

During Tuesday’s hearing, advocates told senators that the state’s equine sector is shrinking as horses and trainers migrate to states like Virginia and New York, where incentives are available for horses bred and certified locally.

Frank Mullins, president of the Aiken Steeplechase, described a grim picture, noting that horse farms and barns — once pillars of local communities — are increasingly being replaced by office buildings and parking lots.

“It’s not good for the essence of our state, not good for the ambience of our small towns,” Mullins said.

Source:

SC bill would legalize gambling on horse races. Don’t bet on it., scdailygazette.com, April 04, 2025.